L&VW's comments are spot on. You can buy a new bailer for about $45. The real safrty concern is the springs on your trailer - they are shot and will fail. Find a spring store in your area and spring (bad pun) for a new set of leaf springs, both sides. The rest of your trailer looks fine, but these springs WILL fail and could total your boat or worse.
I can sell you a used bow handle for $10 + $6 shipping but you may have to install an inspection port near the bow if your old back-up board under the deck has gone bad,
Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY
The daggerboard trunk damage, likely caused by striking an object, can be a nuisance to trace and handful to fix. It may be OK, but use the forum's search feature to locate repair suggestions. The replacement (chrome) halyard cleat may loosen, depending on how it is affixed. We had a recent discussion about installing hiking straps using "toggle bolts". As the strain is lateral, the same technique can be used on your cleat. The bow handle wooden backing plate may still be attached, so you may only need a new bow handle to fix it. The bow handle takes a lot of strain, so substitute hardware should not be considered. (Unless you really need to go sailing, in which case, plumber's strap will work).
"...The trailer bearings are well shot and the leaf springs are questionable. I think since they're rated for 500 lbs each they are maybe okay but the shackles on the leaves are going and almost gone and the small leaf is very bad and lots of flaky rust between the leaves. Salt water here so this looks about right..."
If you have a trailer shop near you, check on the advisability of using new—but weaker—springs. I car-top my Sunfish, but my latest well-used trailer purchase showed the value of much smaller springs. See this thread with a photo —near the end...:
http://sailingforums.com/threads/newbie-wondering-about-buying-this-2001-fish.32530/#post-148053
Although I don't trailer my Sunfishes, I've seen that they don't take a ride on an "over-sprung" trailer very kindly.
The supporting foam blocks can be separated from the hull by bending (from rollers) or rough roads, or one speed-bump.Follow an empty trailer some time, and you'll see that a box of marbles placed near the tail lights will soon have lost all your marbles.
Checking around my little burg of 6000 people, I found that even we have a trailer shop. For further advise, give the nearest one a call. Check at Home Depot for their pressure-treated 2'x4'x16' warped rejects, which should appear on the top of the pile. You might find one long enough for two bunks that's naturally "warped to specifications". Pool noodles can be bought at Dollar Stores for $1 each.
Industrial packaging includes some nifty shipping supports that are sprung. A Grainger catalogue might have them listed, but attaching them would make this "Project Overkill".
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I found that building a cradle from treated lumber added enough sprung weight my trailer to improve the ride. Check out this topic.
Lets Talk Trailer Bunk Placement...
Discussion in 'Sunfish Talk' started by brianZ71, Mar 4, 2012.
http://sailingforums.com/threads/lets-talk-trailer-bunk-placement.23704/